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ALA response to new information in VIC Royal Commission into the Management of Informants

7th Feb 2019

The alleged actions of both the police and the informants involved in the Royal Commission into the Management of Informants have undermined faith in our justice system, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).

“It is gravely concerning that the scope of the Royal Commission has expanded to include the conduct of additional informers who held a duty of confidentiality,” said Mr Tom Ballantyne, VIC State President, ALA. “All legal professionals are acutely aware of their professional and ethical obligations in relation to confidentiality and the alleged conduct by Informer 3838 is not reflective of the profession as a whole.”

“Likewise there are very serious questions to be asked about the conduct of police. The High Court described police's use of the lawyer, known as Informer 3838 or Lawyer X, as "reprehensible conduct" which involved sanctioning "atrocious breaches of the sworn duty of every police officer".

“It is essential that the integrity of the justice system is protected and the ALA fully supports the work of the Royal Commission.”